A Revenue spokesperson has confirmed that there are hundreds of thousands of people potentially facing fines and prosecution following this week's Local Property Tax deadline.
The first group of homeowners - who opted to pay in full - would have had to have made their payment by 5pm on Wednesday, January 10.
However, those who chose to make the payment via a monthly direct debit will have their first payment go out on January 15.
It is understood that around 200,000 people are currently unaware that they may be facing fines and/or prosecution for not meeting the requirements.
Speaking on RTE’s Morning Ireland, Katie Clair, the head of Revenue’s Local Property Tax Branch, said: "We believe that many of these owners do not realise that they have not met their obligations.”
She said the problem in these cases is that some have chosen their method of payment but never submitted an updated valuation of their property by the November 10, 2021 cutoff point."
The Revenue has laid out guidelines online which say: “If you are not compliant, or if you fail to meet your Local Property Tax (LPT) or Household Charge obligations Revenue will use a range of collection and enforcement options to collect any tax due.
“Revenue conducts a number of compliance campaigns reminding liable persons of their LPT obligations.
“If a response is not received within the specified time, Revenue will utilise the following collection or enforcement options:
- mandatory deduction from salary or occupational pension
- the withholding of any refund of other tax as payment against LPT due
- withholding of Tax Clearance Certification
- LPT surcharge generated on Income Tax, Corporation Tax or Capital Gains Tax returns
- interest charges of 8% per annum and additional penalties may also apply
- referral of the debt to a sheriff or a solicitor for collection
- notice of attachment of the owner's bank account.”
They have also warned that where owners have not filed their 2013 and or 2022 LPT returns, the amount of LPT sent to enforcement is the Revenue’s estimated liability.
Any unpaid amounts will remain as a charge on the property until it is paid.
